Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More four years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of Graying Mantis

Graying Mantis is in fact a graying legal practitioner by day (and sometimes, alas, by night). In the cobwebs of his memory, he recalls starting to follow the Blueshirts in 1970 and remembers watching pivotal playoff games against the Blackhawks on a snow-covered Hartford t.v. channel in their 1972 march to the Finals. Giacomin, Gilbert, Ratelle, and Hadfield seen skating on a small B&W TV screens always will be among his first Ranger memories. He is grateful beyond words for the opportunity to work with his colleagues here in their never ending battle to inform and entertain. Most of all, he appreciates the chance to engage with fellow hockey fans.

Bio of J_Undisputed

"J_Undisputed is an Information Tech Professional; a student, and on and off in his dreams, Mike Richter. He caught his first glimpse of Rangers Hockey when an overtime preempted his favorite pro wrestling broadcast on WWOR-9 one late saturday night when he was 5 and he's been hooked ever since. He's been watching the Rangers for 30 years despite family attempts to make him an Islander Fan (Rest easy...they're out of the will). What started as a minor annoyance has become a life long passion (and at times, a frustration...But he wouldn't trade it for anything). Lets Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Here's my list of the notable free-agents that will become available less than two-weeks away --- we all know what the Rangers are currently lacking and free agency is the perfect destination to find those missing pieces (albeit our missing salary cap space). The full list of free agents is much greater than my list, so I excluded a number of players that are virtually guaranteed a spot on their current roster (i.e. Callahan, Dubinsky). One thing is for sure --- I think we are all done talking about where and who Forsberg is going to play for! Ouch...my heel!

Whoever said the off-season was boring in hockey? I think these are exciting times with the draft happening this week, free agency a blink away, and, next thing you know it, our boys are in a military camp swimming laps across the Hudson. I suppose Torts will send our boys somewhere else than West Point!!? Either way, enjoy the list below -- hope is upon us. (I also hope they leave Wade Redden and his contract in Hartford at the beginning of the season).

Here goes nothing...I have bolded players that will probably be on Slats radar:

4 comments:

No idea how this teams cap will be finagled in order to sign any one of these guys. Its pretty apparent that in this NHL, that one or two bad contracts can hinder your teams ability to compete for a half a decade. Unfortunately we have 4 really bad contracts. (Drury,Gomez, Redden, and Rosival). Dont know where they could come up with any sort of relief.

We already know we need a lights out scorer. Hossa and Gaborik fit the bill, but at what cost? I see the Rangers more in the market for a mid level guy ala Havlat or Tanguay. On defense, they could use a big, gritty stay at home type, i like Komisarek. But again, the cap will be the issue.

It's hard not to get frustrated with the decisions made, but relief is on the way. Maybe since there is very little cap room, this franchise will finally be forced to realize the future lies in it's youth. If they are smart enough to dump Redden's contract in Hartford, essentially eating the bad deal, there will probably be one to two significant free agents signings - as Naslund was kind enough to free up a good portion of salary cap space, that might have otherwise been automatically going to him in his second year as a Ranger. I just wish Slats and Co. would just sign Callahan and Dubie and get those guys in the system, rather than making them wait. It's like a poker game....don't you keep the kings and aces and draw-out the 2's and 3's?

Torts will be involved. He'll get us that big D-man we've been waiting for (for 10 years), but I think he'll concentrate on quick 3-period playing forwards that will move the puck like he likes it.

I would be very happy with a Mike Cammalleri signing...He has quietly become a top offensive player and hasn't been recognized nationally because he plays in Calgary and there is that Iginla guy there.

Redden should be buried in Hartford. Cablevision can afford to do that, and maybe he won't show up and we can suspend or even terminate his contract.

I'd like Camm in NY...this rumor stuff is fabulous. You want to believe everything you hear...the latest with ESPN calling for a straight trade with Chicago -- campbell for rozsival. THAT....would never happen.

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